Carmi Public Library ends year on good fiscal note

The Carmi Public Library has been buzzing with activity over the past month. In addition to several special events, including Story Time with "It's a White County Christmas," the facility has played host to a lot of regular visitors and circulation is holding steady.

The Carmi Public Library has been buzzing with activity over the past month. In addition to several special events, including Story Time with "It's a White County Christmas," the facility has played host to a lot of regular visitors and circulation is holding steady. The news is a positive note to end the year on for the library board, which has managed the budget well for 2012 to also end on a healthy fiscal note.

President Andy Acord asked for several committee reports at the Tuesday, Dec. 4 meeting. Ralph Anselment noted the house committee was working fine while Lloyd Stills updated the board on the finances, noting very little change from the previous month.

Carmi Public Library Director Stephanie Dennis gave an overview of activity at the library. She said the foot traffic in the library is constant with the use of the computers. She also noted there are 92 registered on the e-books and the library is averaging 20-30 checkouts per month by members. The library also spent $1,049 on books for November, which includes audio selections.

Dennis also noted that the annual pecan sale is going well, with several products in the pecan line getting low due to high sales. Dennis also reminded the board of the Christmas Luncheon for the city Friday, Dec. 7. As a result, the library will not open until after the luncheon is completed.

An update was also given on Polaris, the new computerized library system being installed. The new software will still go live April 9, 2013 but training on the system has changed slightly. Due to the Illinois Heartland library system including 1,705 staff members that need to be trained on the system, Heartland will assign trainers to work with staff members to provide instruction for the system.

Also, a list of holidays was revised for the board to approve for 2013. One slight change was made, trading Presidents Day with Good Friday. Dennis said the change was in line with the city's schedule as they were "trying to stay in sync with the city." The library will be closed for the following holidays in 2013, as approved by the board: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

The final item of business for the library board was the change of the January board meeting. The board will meet for the first time in 2013 on Jan. 8 as the regular schedule of meeting on the first Tuesday of the month falls on New Year's Day.

The board adjourned into executive session following the 20-minute session.